It's All New and I'm 52

It's been almost a year since my last post. I'm not even sure if I still have any readers or not. I hope some of you will get this and let me know how you are!!

A lot has happened in the past year plus. My 50th year left a lot to be desired in the way of happiness, but I have since found life can be worse. And better.... all at the same time. Simplification and enjoyment of life has become a necessity. Last year at this time, I was going through what I thought would probably be my last spring. You see, last February I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. It is a slow-growing, not smoking related (i had not smoked in over 13 years), very common lung cancer. I was shocked and had the biggest pity party anyone would never want to go to! I had six round of chemo, with the last one being the last week of June, 2010. It had shrunk a bit and I have CT scans every 6 weeks. So far, it has not shown any new growth in size! I have since found a new enjoyment with every positive scan and I live my life for the love and happiness I find in small things.

About two weeks ago, I had my 52 birthday and I'm continuing to live. I am healthy (haha, I know that's funny), happy and trying to be the best person possible. There is hope that in the very least, growth will not happen.

Here is my question. Do any of you know anyone that has or has survived lung cancer? I would like to get to know them!!

Jackie

Do you remember me??

Yes, it's been well over a year. A wham-bam packed year! I'll do my best to bring you up to speed.

The 2009-10 school year was the worst year since my first year of teaching. Plus a lot of things going on with my Dad. Let's just say that covers it, for the most part.

I bought a house last summer and in the middle of moving day, I had to go to the emergency room and had to have emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer. My stomach and duodenum had separated. Ten days later, I got out of the hospital...... and headed for the lung specialist because they saw a 'spot' in one of lungs when they were doing CT-scans to find out my state of emergency. From there, a PET scan to see if it was cancer. On a scale of 1-5, mine came back a 3. So then, wait and see. Plus, there was another spot in the other lung, along with 3 very small pin-points of spots scattered about randomly. ugh.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, I started a new school year and it has been so much better than last year. However, I had to go have CT-scans of my lungs to check and see if growth and been detected and yep, in January's scans, it had changed sizes. I had biopsy and in my mind, it was to eliminate the big "C". Boy, was I shocked to find out I was wrong!! It was positive. Shock!
(And no, I don't smoke)

Meanwhile, I am taking chemo. I have lost no weight, nor my hair. The hair has stopped growing, and a little thinner, but no one notices. Yesterday, I had my 4th treatment, leaving me only 2 more to go. Then, possible maintence drugs. We will see.

I've gotten 'homesick' for blogging. I hope I still have a few readers left out there!!